Weekly Writing Tips Wrap Up

Writing is a practice of empowerment. It allows your voice to be heard. Opinions, ideas, wisdom, and thought processes can all be communicated to others through writing. Writing can be a meaning-making process as well. You can work through personal issues or face controversial topics. Writing has at its core the assumption that the writer's voice - your voice - is valuable. It is, of utmost value.

My hope is that the weekly writing tips help you to share your voice. All of the posts are linked here. When you feel stuck or confused or need a boost, check here and keep writing.

Before you start your writing class:
Be Prepared

When you first begin your class or assignment:
Find a Brainstorm Partner
Watch This

Choose a Topic that Won't Drive You Mad

When you start writing:
Think Out Loud
Just Write!
Think in Bubbles
Outline to Stay on Track
Walk Away

When you finish your draft:
Revise Globally First
Read Aloud

Throughout the quarter:
Ask Your Instructor
Review Past Assignments

Always:
Understand that Writing Is a Process

Weekly Writing Tip: Watch This

When it comes to writing, the Web is is a wealth of resources. For example, the TED Ed video below is a short, animated lesson about creating strong introductions for literary anlysis essays. Take time to explore TED Ed, Purdue OWL, and other free sites that seek to support you as you work through the writing process.

 

Links to helpful sites:

TED Ed - http://ed.ted.com/

Purdue OWL - http://owl.english.purdue.edu/

Grammar Bytes - http://www.chompchomp.com/exercises.htm



The Importance of Review

The importance of review for retaining and understanding information cannot be stressed enough. Daily review improves test performance, reduces stress, enhances memory, and allows more opportunities for really learning course material. The following suggestions can help you get the most out of your review, so you can get the most out of your classes.

Review your class notes within 24 hours. Many students take notes and then do not look at them again until a day or two before the test on that material. Review within 24 hours has many benefits:

• Information moves from short-term storage in your brain to long-term storage. When it comes time to study for a test, you will refresh information that is already reliably stored as opposed to relearning the material. This cuts back on the stress of trying to cram a whole lot of learning into a short amount of time - that frantic feeling that prevents sleep and can harm your test performance.
• You may still recall information from class that you did not write down in your notes. You will be able to add it. Often, that information is lost when notes are not reviewed until a few days before the test.
• You can identify material you do not understand fully and ask for assistance during the next class session.

Review class material at the end of the week. Take about 30 minutes for each class and look over your notes, textbook chapters, and other class materials. Try to identify the key points. What topic comes up most often? What did the instructor emphasize? What idea holds all of the information together? Write down key formulas, theories, or definitions. Talk with a friend or to yourself and try to explain the material. Note any topics you are still struggling with and ask the instructor about them the next time your class meets or during their office hours.

http://thesuccesschaser.com/developing-good-study-habits/

One way to think of cramming versus daily and weekly review for tests is to compare it to cleaning your home before guests come over. If you put off cleaning and realize you only have a few minutes before they walk through your front door, you may just throw everything in a closet. It's all there; it's just not organized. When your friend asks for the DVD you borrowed, even though you remember having it in your hand and putting it in your closet, you can't find it. It's there, but everything else is on top of it or in front of it or mashed all around it. If instead you took a little time everyday before they came over and put everything away - DVDs with DVDs, clothes hung up, books on the shelf, etc. - you could walk over to the DVDs, more easily find the one you borrowed, and return it.

Start now and begin reviewing material within 24 hours of learning it in class. Make time at the end of the week to spend more time reviewing. How you review is up to you: read the notes, make note cards, rewrite your notes in a way that makes more sense to you, talk with a friend or family member. Review to improve retention and understanding and to reduce stress.

The Benefits of Education

The benefits of higher education are increasingly the topics of research and debate. Better wages and greater opportunities for employment often emerge as the center of the discussion. While these benefits motivate students to attend college and drive the development of workforce programs, the other results of education should not be overlooked. Helen Keller believed, “The highest result of education is tolerance.” Tolerance is the ability to comfortably disagree with others, to understand and appreciate differences, and to examine our own beliefs and develop flexibility of thought. As you return to school this Fall, consider how your educational experience shapes your ability to think critically, to respectfully engage with others, and to use the skills that will open the doors to economic opportunities to also open the doors to opportunities that will positively impact your community and the world.

Weekly Writing Tip: Be Prepared

Summer break is nearly over. As you get ready for Fall quarter to start, take specific steps to prepare for your English classes (and other classes you expect to include writing assignments). Here is a list of supplies and resources that are helpful throughout the writing process:

• Access to a computer with Microsoft Word. Your local or college library is a great place to use Word for free. As a student, you can often get discounts on Microsoft products. If you plan to buy your own computer, check with your college bookstore to see if they offer Microsoft Office at a student price.
• A USB drive. USB drives are also called flash or thumb drives. They contain a certain amount of memory and can be easily moved from one computer to another. They also work well for backing up your assignments. Save your paper or project to two places - your computer and your USB drive - in case an issue arises with one of them.
• Paper and pen/pencil. Physically writing material is essential for many students. If you are a read/write learner or a kinesthetic learner, have good old-fashioned notebook paper and pens or pencils ready to go.
• A voice recorder. Check out this previous post for more information about how recording your thoughts can help with the writing process.
• Purdue OWL. Bookmark Purdue's Online Writing Lab: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/. In addition to MLA and APA Guides (listed on the bottom left of the page under Suggested Resources), Purdue OWL offers tips for developing your thesis, creating an outline, checking your grammar and punctuation, and much more. Take some time to explore the site, so you know where to look for information when you need it.
• Information about your college's writing center. Check you college's website for the hours and location of the writing center, learning lab, drop-in tutoring, or other in-person writing resource available to you. The schedule for the Learning Lab for LWIT students is listed on the right. Review your class schedule and determine which days and times will work for you to visit the writing center.

Lastly, create a space where writing will come more easily to you. Do you need music to focus or silence? Do you prefer to sit at a desk or on your couch or not sit at all and walk around? Being prepared to write lessens anxiety and helps you focus on and hopefully even enjoy the writing process. Happy writing!

Weekly Writing Tip: Think Out Loud

Turn on a voice recorder (most cell phones include one) and start saying your thoughts out loud. Don't worry about order or organization. If you were discussing your topic with someone, what would you tell them? Describe what stands out as you think about the topic. Follow a train of thought as far as you would like to go with it. Then, listen to your recording and write down the information that you think will be most helpful in your paper. Add that to your notes and resources, and begin to shape an outline or concept map.

Weekly Writing Tip: Think in Bubbles

Outlines can be very helpful for organizing ideas prior to writing a paper (learn more about outlines). Sometimes, though, we struggle to see connections between our ideas or to consider all the possible directions a topic can lead us. We may have a lot of details and not understand the big picture. In these cases, concept mapping is a valuable tool for breaking out of the box, finding connections and possibilities, and visually creating the message we hope to communicate to our readers. Here are a few examples of concept maps. Use a Google images search to find more. Then, sit down with your topic and see where a concpet map will lead you.

http://ctl.byu.edu/tech-tips/concept-mapping

http://www.education.tas.gov.au/school/curriculum/resources/lote/cultural/examples/Snugworksample1.jpg

http://library.uvic.ca/instruction/research/devtopic.html